1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 171 Horse Training
In the conference room, Liang Jiahui sat on a chair, his hands folded, his knees rubbing on his trouser legs, his heels dangling and shaking, his face full of anxiety and tension.

When Zhai Yuan led Wu Yusen through the door, he was still scolding the other person.

"When did you go blind? If you want to find Ruan Wen, I'll give you Lin Qingxia and Hu Yinmeng, okay?"

Wu Yusen complained in his heart, these two are beauties from Taiwan, don’t you have any idea of Taiwan’s attitude towards you?
"How do I know that woman is the crazy woman you mentioned? But she is indeed pretty!"

Wu Yusen wanted to argue again, but before he could say another word, he was interrupted by Liang Jiahui who stood up hurriedly to greet him.

Liang Jiahui smiled humbly, "Mr. Zhai, Director Wu."

Zhai Yuan turned his head and looked at the actor who was later known as the actor with a thousand faces.

After filming two Chinese blockbusters with Li Hanxiang, this multi-million box office leading actor should have been in high spirits, but now standing in front of him, he acted as awkward as a primary school kid seeing his teacher.

The braid scene made him shave his head, and now he has a short haircut, and he looks pretty energetic.

"Brother Hui."

Zhai Yuan pushed Wu Yusen aside, nodded to Liang Jiahui, raised his eyebrows and smiled: "How is it, how does it feel to be banned?"

The call of "Brother Hui" relieved Liang Jiahui's tension a lot.

Although he is much older than the other party, when these rich guys invite them to be actors, they usually just say "that guy".

"Mr. Zhai, just call me Ah Hui." Liang Jiahui rubbed his nose and forced a smile: "Actually, I had been planning to set up a street stall. I had already found a place and just needed to buy the goods. Suddenly I thought that maybe I could try my luck at Jiuyi."

"It's better to set up a street stall than to be an actor."

Zhai Yuan said this half-jokingly, but it was also the truth. The Hong Kong market is small, and you can meet seven actors when you go downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes. Five and a half of them have no basic salary, the remaining one gets a salary of one or two thousand from TVB, and half of him receives a resettlement allowance from New One City.

In comparison, the gangsters selling counterfeit goods at the Mong Kok Night Market can earn a few hundred dollars in a night if their business is good. The difference is obvious.

"But it doesn't matter. It's no big deal to just ban it."

Zhai Yuan made a joke, and seeing that Liang Jiahui could only smile foolishly, he continued, "Who in my company has not been banned? Director Wu, when will your ban be issued?"

Wu Yusen pursed his lips and said, "My teacher Zhang Che is currently negotiating with the Taiwan side, so I can't receive it for the time being."

"Pick!" Zhai Yuan stared at him for two seconds and gave the middle finger to this guy who betrayed the organization.

After filming the 1991 movie "A Better Tomorrow", even Zhang Guorong was boycotted in Taiwan, let alone others.

Theoretically, Wan Ziliang should have soared to fame with this movie and received many film offers, but after so long, only some small production companies contacted him, and they were all about low-cost Category III films.

As a result, the person who was least affected was Wu Yusen, because he had an awesome teacher who gave up politics to pursue a career in film.

It seems that the Freedom Association is always picking on the weak.

But teachers are different from each other. For example, Liang Jiahui’s teacher, Li Hanxiang, was banned himself, so of course he couldn’t take care of his apprentice.

Zhai Yuan asked: "Didn't Director Li come back with you?"

Liang Jiahui smiled awkwardly: "No, he wanted me to stay in the mainland to develop, but my parents and relatives are still in Hong Kong, so I didn't agree. Director Li was very dissatisfied."

Zhai Yuan nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps this was the cause of the later rift between master and disciple.

But what would happen in another timeline if Leung Ka Fai stayed in the mainland to continue his development?
Daoming, Xuejian, Guoli?
"Jiahui, I've seen the pigtail drama you performed, and your acting was outstanding, but Director Li and I are different. I shoot fashion dramas."

Wu Yusen looked at Liang Jiahui and said, "If you don't mind, I'll try a few shots for you now?"

Liang Jiahui quickly replied: "Why would I mind? Director Wu, just try it."

Wu Yusen nodded, thought for a moment and said, "You and your girlfriend have been through thick and thin together for many years. Now she has suddenly become rich and has many outstanding men around her, so you feel very inferior..."

He was talking about the character Li Wen in the script.

Usually when directors audition newcomers, they will let them dress up as perverts or gangsters, but the selection of male leads is more strict and they will not give such entry-level test questions.

For the next half hour, Zhai Yuan sat on the sofa and watched the two people audition.

Liang Jiahui’s acting skills are certainly good, and he was trained by the great director Li, so at least Zhai Yuan couldn’t see any problems.

But Wu Yusen is a big director after all, and he has his own set of standards. After trying out a few scenes, he still picked out a lot of problems, such as asking him not to have too exaggerated expressions, too many unnecessary body movements, knowing when to make micro-expressions and when not to make them, etc., highlighting his pursuit of perfection.

"Speaking of which, Liang Jiahui is a typical example of a person who is famous for his movies but not for himself. I wonder if Wu Yusen can turn things around for him."

Zhai Yuan was thinking deeply as he watched Liang Jiahui humbly accepting Wu Yusen's training.

The round of auditions ended quickly.

Wu Yusen nodded to Zhai Yuan and said, "Jiahui did a good job in the play. There are some minor problems, but they can be corrected slowly. I think we can give it a try."

Zhai Yuan looked at Liang Jiahui and asked directly: "Will you be the male lead in the sequel of "A Better Tomorrow"?"

Liang Jiahui was stunned when he heard this, and then he realized that he was really lucky today.

This movie was the box office champion last year. Although it didn't have a large market in Taiwan, it still made a lot of money in Southeast Asia. As for filming a sequel, these four words alone can attract a group of actors to flock to it.

Liang Jiahui was so excited that he was a little at a loss. He asked several times in a row. After making sure that today was not April Fool's Day, he wished he was a woman and took off his clothes and lay down immediately.

He kept saying, "Thank you Mr. Zhai for giving me the opportunity! Thank you Director Wu!"

Zhai Yuan said: "No need to thank me first. Usually, you have to sign a five-year contract to film in my company."

Liang Jiahui has no place to film movies now, so he doesn't care about these things. Signing a long-term contract is actually a great deal for him, so he nodded and agreed quickly.

Zhai Yuan said: "The company is currently producing several dramas at the same time, so the financial situation is a bit tight. Please give me a price yourself."

Wu Yusen rolled his eyelids. Here it comes again.

Liang Jiahui's face was a little conflicted. As he was now the leading actor in two multi-million box office movies, a price of two or three hundred thousand was not too high.

But the reality is that no one is willing to use him except Jiuyi.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked cautiously, "One hundred thousand for a play?"

"One hundred thousand, okay."

Zhai Yuan acted embarrassed, as if he had suffered a great loss before agreeing, and finally said: "Jiuyi is different from other companies. It has a basic salary. I will offer you 5,000 a month. If you think it's okay, you can sign the contract."

As one of the few companies in Hong Kong willing to pay artists a basic salary, 91's basic salary is more than twice that of TVB.

With this money, the company will pay this monthly salary regardless of whether the actor has any filming during the contract period.

In contrast, at Xin Yi Cheng, everyone from the director to the actors receive no monthly salary. Only when it is confirmed that there is a movie for you to shoot will you be given a settlement fee to subsidize your household expenses. After the film sells well, the settlement fee will be deducted from your salary.

…………

Liang Jiahui came out of Jiuyi Entertainment with the contract and met Lan Juying standing outside.

Dazzled by the other person's beautiful appearance, Liang Jiahui smiled and prepared to leave.

"Hello... this gentleman."

Lan Juying thought of how Zhai Yuan had confronted her before, and she restrained her attitude towards the strange man a little.

Liang Jiahui stopped in surprise and pointed at himself: "Me?"

"Yeah, that's you."

She looked at the contract paper in the other party's hand and said casually, "Are you going in for the interview? What role?"

Liang Jiahui scratched his head: "Yes, I'm interviewing for the male lead."

Lan Juying asked: "Did you succeed?"

Liang Jiahui nodded.

Lan Juying asked again: "Is the heroine of this play called Ruan Wen?" Liang Jiahui, who had just read the script, was surprised and asked: "How did you know?"

Lan Juying thought of the scene downstairs just now when the bald man said that he looked like "Ruan Wen", and a smug smile appeared on her face.

She said to Liang Jiahui as a matter of course: "I am Ruan Wen~"

Liang Jiahui stood in awe and extended his hand: "Nice to meet you! I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Lan Juying looked down at the hand he stretched out, then looked up and gave him a perfunctory smile, then glanced into the Jiuyi Company, then hooked her finger at Liang Jiahui and walked to the corner to motion for him to follow.

Liang Jiahui retracted his hand somewhat awkwardly, and followed her steps without knowing what was going on.

"What is it, miss?"

"Show me the script."

Lan Juying confidently spread her hands towards Liang Jiahui, and then explained: "I will go in for an audition later, but it just so happened that I didn't bring the script, and it just so happened that I can't remember a few lines in it."

"Oh." Liang Jiahui looked around and felt something was wrong. He hugged the script in his arms and said, "I just read the script and I remember it very clearly now. Tell me what you don't remember."

Lan Juying frowned and said impatiently, "Give it to me if I ask you to. Hurry up! I'm very close to Zhai Yuan, be careful that he bans you!"

She was almost banned by Zhai Yuan before, so she immediately started learning and applying what she learned.

Liang Jiahui suffered from PTSD from these two words. He looked at Lan Jiying carefully, as if thinking about something.

She must have someone with such a hot temper. Could she be Mr. Zhai's girlfriend? No wonder she refused to shake hands with me. Was she afraid that Mr. Zhai would misunderstand her?
Liang Jiahui's smile unconsciously became more attentive, and he handed the script over with both hands: "What is this lady's name?"

"Why, you want to flirt with me? Be careful or I'll ban you!"

Lan Jiying took the script and looked through it, leaving Liang Jiahui standing aside with an awkward smile.

After opening the first page and seeing the words "A Better Tomorrow: The Unparalleled" on it, Lan Juying's eyes suddenly lit up.

This drama has become so famous recently that Miss Lam can't help but imagine that if this drama is finished, wouldn't it be better than the "Twisted Twins" shot by TVB with 100 low-budget cameras? It will be more popular than Chung Chuk-hung in a minute!

Then he began to concentrate on reading the contents.

five minutes.

ten minutes.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Liang Jiahui felt sweat on his forehead.

Who is this young lady? Maybe she is a spy sent by the enemy. Then I will be the one who leaked the script!

After hesitating several times, he finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Miss, are you okay?"

Lan Juying turned to the last page of the script, read the whole story, raised her eyebrows and glanced at Liang Jiahui.

"You're playing Li Wen? Tsk! You don't even look as good as Zhai Yuan."

Then he slapped the script into Liang Jiahui's hand and said arrogantly: "I give it back to you. Thank you very much. Goodbye!"

After saying that, he swaggered back to 91 Entertainment and walked into the company in front of Liang Jiahui.

Liang Jiahui finally breathed a sigh of relief after the script was recovered. Seeing the other person's aura as she walked, he began to believe that this beautiful girl must have a close relationship with Zhai Yuan.

…………

"Or call the police."

Zhai Yuan is troubled by Miss Lan, with whom he has a close relationship. There are so many production companies in Hong Kong, why did they choose me?

"Boss, will this Miss Lan like you?"

Wu Yusen stroked his chin and looked at Lan Juying, who was skillfully carried out by two employees before she even entered the meeting room, and said thoughtfully.

"So you also watch Qiong Yao."

Zhai Yuan sneered, and then he heard the sound of high heels outside.

Outside the glass door, Chen Lan's tall figure is reflected.

"Is there a fire in the harem?" Chen Lan pushed the door open and teased Zhai Yuan as soon as she saw him.

She had just passed by Lan Juying who was taken away, and obviously thought of it as a romantic debt owed by Zhai Yuan outside.

He was a teenager and could do such a thing. It seems that our brother Qiang is loyal. Apart from his ex-wife Ding Pei, he has never cheated on his wife in these years.

Chen Lan thought proudly in her heart.

Zhai Yuan rolled his eyelids and said, "Haha, if I had a harem like this, it would be more than just a fire."

Chen Lan was a little curious and asked, "What's going on? It's not like a young fan pursuing an idol, is it? But you're not a big star."

Zhai Yuan reluctantly recounted the entire incident.

Wu Yusen, who was standing by, heard this for the first time as well and was stunned. Only then did he understand why Zhai Yuan was unwilling to let the other party be the heroine.

After Zhai Yuan finished speaking, he asked Chen Lan: "Sister Lan, can you analyze this from a woman's perspective?"

Chen Lan thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I guess Miss Lan must have no worries about food and clothing, but she is not rich."

"You guessed all this?"

Zhai Yuan told Chen Lan what he had learned, saying, "Her father's main business is running a food stall, and his side business is stock trading. However, he can earn about 100,000 or 200,000 yuan a year from his side business, so of course he has no worries about food and clothing."

Chen Lan smiled and said, "That's it. When I was in Taiwan, I saw too many girls like this. It's hard to say that they are arrogant, but they are definitely ambitious. Several sisters I know are like this. Later, their families fell into poverty and their endings were not good. When I was a dancer, they were already streetwalkers."

She did not shy away from her identity as a dancer at all, and always had a confident and calm smile on her face when she talked about it.

Zhai Yuan hummed in a noncommittal tone and asked, "Then is there any doctor available?"

Chen Lan glanced at him with a meaningful look in her eyes, and said jokingly, "With such a good appearance, she can be trained to be a top-notch horse, right, boss?"

Zhai Yuan frowned: "Pick! Do I look like that kind of person? I'm just doing good deeds~"

"Okay, okay, the boss is a kind person."

Chen Lan smiled and said, then thought for a moment and said, "Let her leave TVB. Who among these poor new artists can control her? Do you expect Fang Yihua and Madam Li to help you train your horse?"

"What do you mean by horse training? I don't like to hear you say that!"

Zhai Yuan now just wanted to get rid of this burden. He stared at Chen Lan for a few seconds, and his expression gradually became clear.

He asked Chen Lan: "Sister Lan, have you chosen the heroine for God of Gamblers?"

Chen Lan frowned warily: "Boss, I can help you train the horse, but please don't mess with my play. I chose Zhong Chuhong as the heroine of this play. If the company breaches the contract, it will be very expensive."

Zhai Yuan thought of Zhong Chuhong's appearance, slapped his thigh, and looked at Wu Yusen: "Zhong Chuhong will be your assistant! It's a horizontal transfer between companies, and you don't have to pay for breach of contract."

He then said to Chen Lan, "That crazy bitch is the heroine of God of Gamblers for you. You should take good care of her. That will be the best of both worlds!"

Chen Lan was about to open her mouth to refute, but Zhai Yuan didn't give her a chance.

"Where's the male lead? Who did you choose as the male lead?"

"...Chow Yun-fat." Chen Lan said unhappily.

Zhai Yuan frowned and said with a look of regret: "Look, you have to change the male lead too."

(End of this chapter)